Do you have what it takes to be a great business leader?

By Forward Thinking UK | Coaching For Business

31 Mar 2023

1679433727783.jpeg.jpg

Introduction

Everyone has heard of the great business leaders of our time. People like Tim Cook, Elon Musk, Sheryl Sandberg, and Jeff Bezos are renowned for their successes in managing and leading the biggest organisations in history. 

It’s often tempting to imagine they are a different breed of person entirely. Superhuman figures who plan and execute on a scale far beyond the rest of us mere mortals. But it turns out that the most successful individuals all share certain core characteristics. Namely, goal-setting, an ability to structure and delegate tasks, and an acute awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses. 

Great leaders can plan effectively while remaining flexible enough to succeed in the face of adversity or changes in the market. They have the drive to continue growing, learning and making improvements, separating them from those who cannot realise their business visions. In other words, great business leaders aren’t so much different as they are relentlessly ambitious.

But what does it take to be a great business leader? What qualities make someone stand out from the rest? Let’s explore the essential attributes that make up a great business leader.

Goal Setting

Not daily or monthly targets (although they are important). No, when these business titans set a goal, it’s a massive, audacious, ambitious goal that nobody would believe possible.

Why? Because why the hell not? They aren’t here to play around in the lower leagues. They know that success comes from bold ideas.

Having an overarching goal, or North Star, is one of the most significant aspects of being an effective business leader. It serves as a beacon for focus and direction that can guide teams through potentially turbulent waters. 

Research suggests that having a North Star helps unify a team behind a single mission and provides comfort and reassurance while making decisions along the way. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that having such a goal helps foster resilience when unforeseen change occurs and provides clarity even in times of great uncertainty.

Ultimately, an overarching goal is the foundation on which successful leaders can take their teams further toward unbelievable results.

Structure and Delegation

So, how do you get there once the North Star is set? This is where structure and delegation come into play. 

Effectively breaking down big goals into smaller, more manageable steps is essential for any leader. Setting clear expectations and timelines helps keep everyone on track while allowing you to see what needs improvement or additional resources along the way. Plus, having a long-term goal is fine, but it can be hard to stay focused and motivated if it’s too far in the future. So, implementing smaller, achievable goals leads to a sense of accomplishment that keeps teams energised and hungry for more success.

In addition to creating the journey, the best leaders know how to use their available resources for maximum benefit. Therefore, learning how to delegate tasks is an essential skill. Not only will it help you manage your workload more effectively, but it is also vital for helping you focus on the big picture. 

When done right, delegation ensures all your team members utilise their strengths and skillsets in the best way possible. This leads to them achieving better results and increasing productivity overall. Delegation encourages collaboration as tasks are dispersed among a team or department, which builds relationships and allows everyone to contribute their unique perspectives to completing larger goals. The result? A successful company built on effective leader delegation.

Self-Awareness

The third quality of a successful business leader is self-awareness. It’s easy to get caught up in the details of a project or strategy and forget about your unique skills (or knowledge gaps). There’s nothing more embarrassing than starting a task you thought you could do but then finding out you can’t. It destroys your credibility with your team and damages your ability to lead.

But the top leaders know their own strengths and weaknesses intimately. This means they can delegate tasks to the right people while allowing them to take ownership of those roles. 

Understanding their own weaknesses allows them to bring in a business coach or mentor to help them overcome their shortcomings. A business coach is an invaluable asset for any leader, providing experience and insight to help them succeed. Having someone with you on your journey who can act as a sounding board and mentor is a guaranteed way to reach your goals. Just ask any professional athlete.

Summary

Being a great business leader means more than having impressive credentials or a degree from a prestigious school. It requires hard work, dedication, communication skills, an open mindset, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. 

In many ways, true business leaders can see the big picture while still attending to the small details that make a difference in the long run. By being aware of their abilities and having an ambitious goal, they can structure and delegate effectively, leading to remarkable results.

Want to learn how to become one of the great leaders? Contact us to learn more about our business coaching and company transformation services.

Latest news

1

University of Central Lancashire celebrates hat-trick of wins at Educate North Awards University of Central Lancashire winners at Educate North Award Winners 2025

University of Central Lancashire celebrates hat-trick of wins at Educate North Awards

04 Apr 2025

2

The Villa’s sister venue shuts its doors The Villa Levens and The VillaWrea Green (Image credit: The Villa Levens and The Villa Wrea Green)

The Villa’s sister venue shuts its doors

04 Apr 2025

3

PM urged not to retaliate over tariffs Manufacturing

PM urged not to retaliate over tariffs

03 Apr 2025

4

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer Matthew Ratcliffe CMAC

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer

03 Apr 2025

5

For sale signs at The Villa Villa Wrea Green has been brought to market (Image credit: The Villa Wrea Green)

For sale signs at The Villa

02 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Lancashire Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880395853-4862066883-1-original.20241022-091152-2.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
04 Apr 2025 - 04 Apr 2025

Lancashire Business Expo 2025

Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
24 Apr 2025 - 24 Apr 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

People Power: Exclusive Event Series
Stay ahead in 2025.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
29 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025

People Power: Exclusive Event Series

People's History Museum, Manchester, M3 3ER

17:00 - 21:00

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase
13421_research_knowledge_exchange_2025_600x300.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
07 May 2025 - 08 May 2025

Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships
30478 Skills Bootcamp open day setting.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships

University of Central Lancashire, Preston , PR1 2HE

14:30 - 15:30

Celebrating 50 years of KTP
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Celebrating 50 years of KTP

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

16:00 - 18:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin